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CITY
BUDGET
At
their meeting of June 18, 2002, the Santa Monica City Council
approved a $387.3 combined operating and capital municipal
budget for fiscal year 2002-03.
The
City Council continues to disappoint the Pico Neighborhood
Association. The budget did not include any funding for any
of the PNA stated priorities. In fact, items like the promised
20th Street improvements have been dropped altogether. Further,
the Council did not deliberate any Pico neighborhood needs
but at the last minute the Council funded the following:
$1.5
million in one-time funds to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified
School District, in addition to all other recommended school
district funding included in the recommended budget
$250,000
to the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau
$22,400
to the Santa Monica Historical Society to be used for the
Outlook newspaper photo archive cataloging project
$75,000
to the Santa Monica Playhouse
$1,000
to the League of Women Voters for their Smart Voter Project
$33,000
to restore the Police Mounted Unit
The
PNA had submitted the following as comments to the proposed
city budget for 2002-2003.
City
Council members,
The Council should address four areas:
1) Police presence
2) Tenancy consequences when violent crimes are committed
3) Improving the physical appearance of the neighborhood.
4) Resident ownership
1.
The Pico neighborhood needs an "effective" policing
policy....one that encompasses true "community policing"
and has behind it the resources to properly implement such
a policy. Together, the neighborhood and the PD can build
such a deployment. As stated in the budget sessions, the
police focus will be on downtown traffic and homeless problems.
Department time is needed to establish a working Pico plan.
2.
The council can implement an ordinance or charter amendment
that allows for eviction if a tenant commits a violent crime
or illegally discharges a weapon anywhere in the city. In
addition, the city will help or assist the landlord when
needed. Perhaps drug dealing should be included with this.
This would have a small budgetary impact but would signify
a shift in strategy by the council. This would dovetail
with police department thinking and would dovetail with
established "tenant protection", by protecting
the safety of law-abiding tenants.
3.
The council can expand the graffiti abatement program. More
man power is needed. Nothing is planned as of this writing.
4.
The council can require the Planning Department develop
a handout on suggested graffiti prevention. The design of
fences, walls and barriers as well as landscaping can be
effective in deterring graffiti. Alternatively, the council
can enact an ordinance that requires design modification
to prevent graffiti. This would have a small budgetary impact
but has the potential to save the city dollars spent on
maintenance.
5.
A real commitment to the appearance of the neighborhood
is needed. Street planting and maintenance, utility placement,
large object trash collection, traffic control and code
enforcement in the neighborhood should be given resources
for improvement. As of this writing street maintenance,
tree trimming, 20th Street improvements, neighborhood traffic
controls, etc. are slated to be cut back or have been taken
off the agenda.
6.
Devote affordable housing funds toward a bona-fide home
ownership program. Political bias should be set aside and
the Housing Department should be given the time and resources
to design a workable plan for Santa Monica.
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